Refugee crisis, terrorism need measured responses

GREEN BAY - The Middle East refugees’ crisis is a vexing problem that threatens to change the very fabric of a number of European nations and significantly impact our own country.

Most Americans are sympathetic to the plight of these displaced people and sincerely want to provide help. We are also concerned about terrorism and domestic security. Our government has assured us that the vetting process for those bound for the U.S. will be long and thorough while others who know the region maintain that records and documents needed are seldom available. The shortcomings of the system seems to have been illustrated by the recent San Bernardino, Calif., event.

It is one thing for our president to stake out the moral high ground labeling resistance to accepting refugees as, “un-American” and accusing Republicans of “now being afraid of widows and orphans.” It is quite another to note that women carried out stabbings on Israeli streets, a woman blew herself to bits in Paris, three women killed 27 people in a recent suicide attack in Lake Chad, and Tashfeen Malik helped to kill her husband’s co-workers. It is also chilling to watch the video of ISIS members teaching children of kindergarten age how to use guns to kill.